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City living gets complicated
Three out of the last five weekends I have now been robbed. Not at gunpoint or anything. But my garage has been broken in to and they've made off with several items.
First it was two bikes, then a bike, then another couple of bikes. Nothing too serious and nothing too valuable. Each time the cops show up and take down the information and file a report.
I had one neighbor who found out about it who brought me a keyless alarm system to mount on my garage. Ostensibly if a burglar (or a deer or big cat or a homeless man) walks through the light beam an alarm will sound on the receiver next to my bed.
It seems like a lot of effort for something that may or may not work. And if it does, what am I supposed to do? Run out of the house in my PJs with a kids' baseball bat in my hand and challenge whoever is out there? Somehow that whole picture seems a little far-fetched.
These guys also help themselves to money. I keep a little container full of change in my car, easy to see and access. For me it's on the rare occasion that I think of plugging a parking meter. But for these guys, they manage to get the three or four bucks in change.
They used to break my window to get in, but I got sick of that so I leave my car unlocked so they can take the change but leave the windows alone. They never do any other damage.
The question, of course, is what to do short of moving to rural Waukesha County or farm house in Kenosha. I'm not moving. I love living in the city. And I'm not about to try and break the head of kids (and I'm pretty sure they are kids) who are up to mischief.
This one is a tough call.
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Iheartfood | July 25, 2012 at 11:23 a.m. (report)
Wasn't there just a shooting at a gas station at Clement and Oklahoma in Bay View. Oh, and the guy stalking women in Bay View? Bay View is not exempt.
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Jimmy_Jones | July 24, 2012 at 4:42 p.m. (report)
http://www.jsonline.com/news/crime/arrest-made-in-string-of-riverwest-burglaries-l767vig-163588726.html
Looks like they nabbed the culprit... 18 year old man with drug issues.
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AndrewJ | July 24, 2012 at 2:32 p.m. (report)
"I stopped locking my doors so that they would stop breaking my windows"
That literally leaves me speechless....
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badger80 | July 24, 2012 at 9:16 a.m. (report)
Yes, get a gun. Nothing ever goes wrong when you shoot people.
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milvtecguy | July 23, 2012 at 8:29 p.m. (report)
I don't know where you live, but I also live in Milwaukee. The Bay View neighborhood to be exact. I have never had a problem. I even walk my dog in the late night, and am always fine. Maybe you just knowing live in a bad neighborhood. I hate when people make comments about having to move out of the city. People just think that they can live anywhere and they will be fine (like Riverwest, there is a lot of property crime there). You need to take steps to protect yourself and your property if you live in an area that is known for certain crimes. There are plenty of good areas in the city to live, but that doesn't mean crime can't happen. You have to be smart. How about a deadbolt on the garage, only glass block otherwise no window, lock up valuables with a chain, motion lights, an alarm that sounds if the door is ajar, anything if you are going to continue to live there. Don't make yourself a soft target Of coarse it's the low lives who have stole your property that are to blame, but you can't let yourself be a victim.
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